About Us

Vaughan W. Rees, PhD

Interim Director

Dr. Rees currently serves as the Principal investigator on the MassCONECT 4 Kids grant funded by NCMHD, as well as the co-investigator on grants from NCI and FAMRI. His research focuses on assessment of the influence of product design and marketing on smoker behavior and sensory perceptions. This work is used to inform tobacco control policy, develop resources for communicating risks of tobacco products, and enhance understanding of factors that contribute to tobacco dependence. He also leads work on a community-based intervention to reduce secondhand smoke exposure among young children, to reduce health disparities among underserved communities.

Robyn Keske, MSW, MPH

Ms. Keske’s major responsibilities include: direction of the MassCONECT 4 Kids Promoting Smoke Free Homes Study, a multi-site randomized trial evaluating the effectiveness of Motivational Interviewing (MI), compared with usual best practices (UBP), in helping parents to make their home smoke free and reduce children’s exposure to SHS. She is primarily responsible for developing the study procedures, managing the community health workers in the three participating cities and convening the community partners and community advisory group. Ms. Keske brings her experience and passion for utilizing community based participatory research strategies to address health disparities to her work with the Center for Global Tobacco Control.

Natasha A. Sokol, MPH

Ms. Sokol’s current research focus includes assessing the impact of tobacco product design on initiation, dependence and population use, through investigation of internal tobacco industry documents and other secondary data sources. In addition, she is interested in drug use and addiction, mental health, health disparities and media advocacy.

Robin Blum Flaig, SM

Associate Director of Finance and Administration, Dept. of Social and Behavioral Sciences
rblum@hsph.harvard.edu

Her responsibilities include: management of all aspects of sponsored research and departmental administration for the Center for Global Tobacco Control, Program for Community Research, and LAMPS.

Rubim Rwakabuba

Finance Assistant
rrwakabu@hsph.harvard.edu

His major responsibilities include: coordination of accounts payable, reimbursements, and local operations for the Center for Global Tobacco Control, Program for Community Research, and LAMPS.